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Part 2 of the epic wartime tale of Derrick Edwards
Part 1 was featured in the Summer
edition of “Friends” Issue No 21
The Wildcat aircraft flown by Derrick on his Russian
convoy operations
(Wartime colour photograph of Fleet Air Arm Wildcat
deck landing in WW2)
After completing his stint on the Russian convoys, Derrick
joined another squadron and was sent to northern Norway,
then still under German occupation even though these
were now the final days of the war. In May 1945, the
squadron joined the aircraft carrier HMS Queen to assist
in giving the Germans in the Norwegian fiords “one
last kick in the pants from the Royal Navy”. Again
Derrick played his part in Wildcats by strafing enemy
shipping and providing high level protection for the
torpedo-carrying Swordfish and Grumman Avengers which
were attacking the enemy at very low level. The Germans
were using their very rapid fighter the FW190 in these
engagements and Derrick recounts how the slow but highly
manoeuvrable Swordfish could evade the enemy aircraft
diving down at them by turning steeply in the narrow
fiords and escaping while the FW190s were still struggling
to turn round for another attack.
With the European war coming to an end Derrick’s
last task on VE day was again to provide a flying escort,
this time for HMS Birmingham carrying Crown Prince Olaf
of Norway to accept the formal surrender of the German
Fleet off the Danish coast. If any enemy aircraft had
been encountered Derrick is still not sure what the
British pilots’ reaction would have been. As he
says now, “we didn’t know whether to shoot
or wave at them!” In the event it all passed off
without conflict and at last peace descended over Europe.
For Derrick however, yet more operational flying lay
ahead. After the icy wastes of Russia and the bleak
fiords of Norway he was posted to the steamy heat of
Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to join the British forces still
fighting the Japanese. Here, flying yet another American
aircraft, the more powerful and faster Grumman Hellcat,
Derrick’s squadron moved inland and was soon engaged
on operations hunting down and strafing the enemy with
cannon and underwing rockets. However with the surrender
of Japan, the 2nd World War finally came to an end.
Derrick’s last “action” came about
on VJ day when after a night of heavy carousing he made
the celebratory gesture of gleefully firing off a Very
pistol outside the Officers Wardroom! This was in direct
defiance of the rules forbidding any letting off of
fireworks etc within their jungle environment. Derrick
subsequently survived the wrath of the Station Commander
and although being officially “confined to Officers
Quarters” still managed to attend the unofficial
night-time raid on the female Wrens’ Quarters
(known affectionately as the “Wrennery”).
Like so many others Derrick returned to civilian life
and to his pre-war occupation as a shipping clerk for
an oil company. Various jobs in the “rag trade”
followed, including a stint at the London store Bourne
& Hollingsworth as a ribbon buyer necessitating
overseas travel, and as a floor salesman dealing with
many celebrities of those times; Tessie O’Shea
is one that he cites as being a particular joy to know.
He gained more buying experience with a position at
John Lewis as a deputy Buyer, and it seemed at last
that Derrick’s flying days in the Fleet Air Arm
had indeed finished.
However the Royal Navy then issued a call for experienced
navy pilots
for short term commissions, flying not just conventional
propeller aircraft but also the (then) new jet aircraft.
Derrick immediately applied, was accepted, and in celebration
of this change in his fortunes, took a holiday in Austria.
Here he met his wife-to-be Leslie and after a whirlwind
six month romance they were married in a church in aptly-named
Love Lane, Pinner Middlesex. Derrick with his new bride
and new service commission was then posted to Malta
where over the course of two years he flew many aircraft
on various tasks including ferrying service VIPs around
Mediterranean countries in twin propeller-engined aircraft.
Much more to his liking, he then piloted the jet-powered
fighters the Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire
whilst taking part in exercises with the Fleet based
at Malta. Derrick was absolutely delighted with the
Vampire, its sheer power, manoeuvrability, and speed
making it a complete pleasure to fly, perfectly suiting
Derrick’s style. He recounts how, on their early
morning flights he and his colleagues would fly low
and fast across the island showing off their new machines
to the locals and in the process waking up his wife!
The jet-powered Vampire, one of Derrick’s favourite
aircraft which he first flew in Malta.
After his Malta service, Derrick and family (now including
a brand-new daughter) returned to the UK where he served
the last 2 years of his service in Norfolk flying yet
more aircraft, like the Sea Fury and Avenger, on radar
research. By this time, the Edwards family had increased
to include daughter No.2 and so our intrepid hero finally
said farewell to his beloved Fleet Air Arm. However
the aviation world had not quite finished with Derrick;
he was offered the position of 2nd Captain flying aircraft
for the commercial airlines BEA/BOAC at an impressive
salary, this being the mid 1950s, of £1000 per
annum. Derrick was seriously tempted but an increasing
problem with his hearing, caused he believes by too
many hours sitting astride the Merlin engine in his
Hurricane and Spitfire flying days, saw Derrick at the
age of 30 hanging up his helmet and goggles and returning
to civilian life.
Derrick’s subsequent civilian career was totally
different and far removed from the excitement and adrenalin-filled
days of his flying career. However, using his selling
skills previously learnt in the retail world, he embarked
on a highly successful career over many years in the
confectionery industry, first with the sales teams of
John Mackintosh, Rowntrees and finally Nestle, before
a well earned retirement beckoned.
Derrick and his wife moved to Northwood where his association
with Michael Sobell House began. He felt the need to
put something back into life and became involved with
Volunteering at the Hospice, initially in the Gardening
team and then as a driver which continues to this day
(together with a stint at a club for the blind) on a
regular basis. Derrick has been a Volunteer Driver now
for well over 20 years. At 82 years’ young he
still finds the experience very rewarding. He says patients
give so much back to him and he feels that he is still
“handling the controls”. Its also worth
mentioning that this December Derrick and Leslie will
celebrate their Emerald wedding anniversary after 55
years of marriage.
Thus ends the tale of our Volunteer Driver Derrick
Edwards, definitely “that magnificent man in his
flying machines”.
Written by Chris Holding, Volunteer Press Officer for
the Friends
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